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Digital Copyright Bill Nears
Approval by Congress

A new version of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, reconciling differences between House and Senate measures, was passed by the Senate October 8.

In addition to implementing the treaties passed by the World Intellectual Property Organization in 1996, the bill makes it illegal to circumvent electronic encryption devices. An earlier amendment supported by library and education groups delaying such a prohibition for two years was dropped, although the government can consider appeals for exemptions under fair-use provisions.

The House-Senate conference committee dropped a provision opposed by librarians and researchers that would have given copyright protection to databases even when the individual contents were not protected. Legislators have promised to make the issue a priority next year.

The House is expected to pass the measure before Congress adjourns for the year.

Posted October 12, 1998.

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Digital Copyright Bill Nears
Approval by Congress